The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-14
THE HERO OF SHILOH.
jeff Davis Tribute to Albert Sidney
Johnston.

in New Orleans on 9th April, on the
occasion of the unveiling Of q statue
in memory Of Albert Sidney John
ston:
If words could add anything to
the effect which this scene produces,
then I should regret that my physl-
cal ability does not allow me to ad-
dress so large an audience as this.
Sidney Johnston fame rests on his
deeds. 1t requires no embellishments
from any one, and if it did the able
orator you have heard has done What
the occasion requires. TO you, my
brethren of the Louisiana Division Of
the Army Of Tennessee, | wish to
offer my congratulations for your
eminent success in the task you un-
dertook. Despite the jeers Of evil
prophecy Of those who said you could
not succeed. you have succeeded, and
(pointing to tie statue? there is to-
dav, | believe, tie best equestrian
statue, man and horse, that is to be
found in any country. Applause.
There is the head and neck, familiar
to all Of you, Of the Gorse he rode
when he received his death wound,
copied, | know not how, but instinct
with resemblance. There is the
grand figure of our hero as we have
seen him on horseback, perfect cav
alier as we'll rs the fearless soldier.
You have. done we'll to embody this
hero's statue in material more endur-
ing than granite. Not that his fame
was likely to diminish, nor that you
required any visible sign to remind
you of his greatness or warm your af-
fection for him, but that, in coming
time, as the youths of our country
pass by, they may look at that statue
and say, Well, who is this? and learn
the story of the man who was as good
as he was great and as great as hu
manity permits man to be. [ knew
Sidney Johnston, l believe, better
than l knew any other man, perhaps
because his character was written so
legibly that it was easy to compre-
hend it. Be that as it may, we had
been associated in college, from COL
legc we went to the Military Acad-
emy, and from there we went into the
army. I pause for moment on the
period when at college together. l
believe as a rule that boys are better
Judges Of each other than their pro-
fessors Of them. Johnston stood en-
inent in the corps of cadets always
courteous, always ready for duty, al
ways proficient. l believe that if you
will go among cadets who were in the
corps with him, and ask which was
the grandest character they knew IN
the CORPS. the answer would be gene
rally, if not universally, Albert Sid
ney Johnston. That is my opinion,
and I have heard it expressed by
many; among others, by the man who
was at the head Of his class, and who
is one Of the greatest saoaats this
country has ever produced.
ave entered the army together and
were in the same branch of service.
We were together in barracks and in
Indian campaigns, and remember
now the time, when a deadly disease
was spreading among the men in
camp, Sidney Johnston was there
himself, suffering, yet calm and at
tentive to those who were suffering
more than himself. lie showed 10
trepidation. 1t was not in his ma
ture to do so. The man had been as
4 lion in battles, and when he stopped
over q suffering comrade his eyes
moistened with more than q mother 5
weakness. Such was the nature OF
this man. Then we served in for.
eign war together. J could not tell
YOU much Of that period without be-
ing subject to the charge of egotlsm,
for singly and alone we two have
stood where death seemed to come
every moment, and there Sidney
Johnston was as calm Us | ever saw
him in camp. His decision was as
quick as rifle powder. Il speak to
infantrymen who know how quick
that ISL Then there was one charac
teristic of him which prevailed
throughout the whole course of his
life, and that was his chlvalric tenn
per. lie never deserted friend, and
was prone to step in front OF 4 friend
when he saw him assailed. He wa:
knightly, but not errant. When he
saw Texas struggling for right. that
he thought belonged to all men-the
right Of self:government-he went tc
volunteer. without recommendation,
taking his place in the ranks 10 fight
for the liberty Of Texas in order that
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